1 Corinthians 16:19
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 16:19
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 16 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of worship, mercy, hope. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-24: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 16:19
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Analysis
The churches of Asia salute you—Aspazomai (ἀσπάζομαι, "greet, salute") conveys warm Christian fellowship. Asia refers to the Roman province in western Asia Minor, including Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea—the seven churches of Revelation 2-3. This greeting emphasizes the unity of geographically separated churches, countering Corinthian factionalism.
Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house—This remarkable couple, tentmakers like Paul (Acts 18:2-3), hosted churches wherever they lived—Rome (Romans 16:3-5), Corinth (Acts 18:2), Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:19), and again Rome (2 Timothy 4:19). En kyriō (ἐν κυρίῳ, "in the Lord") distinguishes Christian greeting from mere social courtesy. The kat' oikon ekklēsia (κατ᾽ οἶκον ἐκκλησία, "house church") was the standard New Testament church structure before dedicated buildings existed.
Historical Context
Aquila and Priscilla (also called Prisca) were expelled from Rome by Claudius's edict (AD 49) banning Jews. They met Paul in Corinth, worked alongside him, then traveled to Ephesus where they instructed Apollos (Acts 18:26). Priscilla's name appearing first in Acts 18:26 and Romans 16:3 suggests prominence unusual for women in antiquity, possibly indicating she was the primary teacher or of higher social status than Aquila.
Reflection
- What does the practice of greetings between geographically distant churches teach about Christian unity?
- How does the house church model embodied by Aquila and Priscilla differ from modern church structures?
- What made Aquila and Priscilla such effective ministry partners—for each other, for Paul, for churches?
Word Studies
- Lord: Κύριος (Kurios) G2962 - Lord, Master
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Acts 18:2